I am travelling to be with family over the festive season. If you visit the site perhaps you could check out my collection of Images of the Month by opening the tab above. Or you could type in the name of a bird species in the search box top right corner of the page to call up images from my three years of photography in Qatar. Common Kestrel European Stonechat Pallid Harrier Hunting Kestrel complete with jesses A Masked Shrike warming itself in the early morning sun
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A bit quieter this week but sill a couple of photo opputunities. The Indian Pond Heron remains in the House. I first observed and photographed this bird in this Bouganvillia bush on the 29th February. Here it is on the 5th December perched on the identical branch First seen in February of this year Indian Silverbill Great Cormorant Dunlin
I first observed a Shoveler in mid-October at the local patch, then a second one a week later. They have remained together since then, with their plumage in transition. First bird observed in mid October. Note black bill Second bird observed in late October with paler bill Both birds seen feeding together for easy comparison Now in early December this bird has a darker head, heading towards the glossy green it will attain. A tinge of the chestnut is also appearing on the flanks Note both birds now have black bills. This one is still showing a lighter head, but more advanced white on the breast area Seen here the plumage progression can be compared with the similar image ot the two birds together from approximately six weeks ago
I was kindly called onto this bird by Jolynn van Duffelen. It was roosting in a grove of trees, very well camouflaged in the upper branches. The wind was blowing, moving the branches backwards and forwards making it difficult for a clear image. All the same I am very pleased to have been able to connect with the bird as they are listed as scarce resident breeders. This sighting takes my Owl count to three species in Qatar now.
I started at the lower ponds hoping to catch a glimpse of the Swamphens but some shooters were patrolling so I presumed I was wasting my time as most of the birds were hiding in the reedbeds. Next I went looking for the Sociable Lapwing. Here I also drew a blank but there were good numbers of both Northern and Red Wattled Lapwings in the fields. I will just have to persevere later in the week. Whilst I was patrolling there was as usual always something to see Daurian Shrike Mauryan Shrike Male European Stonechat with juicy Caterpillar Male Namaqua Dove Montagu's Harrier Common Snipe at the same spot as the other day
Next to the road was a small puddle and as I drove passed I noticed some movement. It ended up being four waders feeding quietly in the water and the grass at the edge of the road.They continued going about their business even though several trucks drove past on there way to load hay bales Common Snipe. There were two birds feeding together Here the second bird crouches low to the ground as a truck drives past A Wood Sandpiper was also in attendance As was this Green Sandpiper
I took a drive up to the port to see what Gull and Tern activity I could find. There was a good mix of birds circling around on the look-out for scraps from the Dhows that were in the harbour off-loadig their catches and cleaning their decks. Unfortunatly no early sighting of the one bird I was hoping to possible see, the Great Black-headed Gull. Caspian Tern Gull-billed Tern Socotra Cormorant. My first sighting of this species in a long time A Great Cormrant flying low over the water as it arrives at the harbour entrance for a spot of fishing A Common Black-headed Gull One of several LWHG circling overhead Another LWHG circling overhead This bird had what looked like some adhesive tape stuck around its beak
There must have been a Kestrel convention on the go as they could be seen everywhere. They were flying overhead, perched on the ground and then also up on the overhead pylons which seems to be their favourite spot. There wwere also some overwintering Harriers on offer as usual A Common Kestrel glides past overhead keeping an eye on me Here one is perched on a rock busy devouring what looks like a locust it has caught Here in the early morning light one uses the overhead pylon as a look-out perch A male Western Marsh Harrier perches on a bale A Montagu's Harrier perches on a rusty roll of baling twine
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March 2024
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